Multi-Carrier Grant Design

ABSTRACT

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate assigning resources for an anchor carrier and an additional carrier with a grant message. The grant message communicated with an anchor carrier can include resource information a plurality of carriers. Moreover, the systems and methodologies that facilitate identifying control information for an anchor carrier and/or an additional carrier based upon an operating mode, wherein the operating mode is a legacy mode or an extended mode. Based on the operating mode, particular resources associated with control regions are monitored for control information for respective anchor carrier(s) or additional carrier(s).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/536,733 filed Aug. 6, 2009 entitled “MULTI-CARRIER GRANT DESIGN,” andissued on Mar. 11, 2014 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,670,376, which applicationclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/088,319 entitled “MULTI-CARRIER DESIGN FOR LTE-A-UL GRANTS” which wasfiled Aug. 12, 2008. The entirety of the aforementioned applications isherein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

I. Field

The following description relates generally to wireless communications,and more particularly to uplink (UL) grants for multiple carriers.

II. Background

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication; for instance, voice and/or data can be providedvia such wireless communication systems. A typical wirelesscommunication system, or network, can provide multiple users access toone or more shared resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power, . . . ).For instance, a system can use a variety of multiple access techniquessuch as Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), Time DivisionMultiplexing (TDM), Code Division Multiplexing (CDM), OrthogonalFrequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), and others.

Generally, wireless multiple-access communication systems cansimultaneously support communication for multiple mobile devices. Eachmobile device can communicate with one or more base stations viatransmissions on forward and reverse links. The forward link (ordownlink) refers to the communication link from base stations to mobiledevices, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communicationlink from mobile devices to base stations.

Wireless communication systems oftentimes employ one or more basestations that provide a coverage area. A typical base station cantransmit multiple data streams for broadcast, multicast and/or unicastservices, wherein a data stream may be a stream of data that can be ofindependent reception interest to a mobile device. A mobile devicewithin the coverage area of such base station can be employed to receiveone, more than one, or all the data streams carried by the compositestream. Likewise, a mobile device can transmit data to the base stationor another mobile device.

Area tracking within a wireless communication system enables a trackingarea location for user equipment (e.g., mobile device, mobilecommunication apparatus, cellular device, smartphone, etc.) to bedefined. Typically, a network can request or page the user equipment(UE) in which the UE can respond with such tracking area location. Thisenables the tracking area location of the UE to be communicated andupdated to the network.

Multi-carrier systems often employ cross-carrier operations whichprovide good system performance. In a multiple carrier system orenvironment, a user equipment can leverage multiple carriers (e.g., acarrier can include an amount of resources or a collection of resources,an amount of bandwidth, etc.). Within multi-carrier operation, an anchorcarrier can be utilized to communicate information related to two ormore carriers. Moreover, control information being absent can preventdata transmissions on these carriers. In other words, multi-carriersystems cannot distinguish for which carrier received control isapplicable. In addition, within a multiple carrier system orenvironment, uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) control assignments can becostly in overhead and user equipment (UE) assignment monitoring foreach carrier.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodimentsin order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. Thissummary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments,and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of allembodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its solepurpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in asimplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that ispresented later.

According to related aspects, a method that facilitates assigningresources within a multiple carrier environment. The method can includeidentifying a plurality of carriers in frequency and at least one anchorcarrier among the plurality of carriers. Further, the method can includeidentifying respective relationships between respective anchor carriersand sets of carriers corresponding to the respective anchor carriers.Moreover, the method can comprise receiving at least one grant messageon one or more anchor carriers. The method can additionally includedetermining a set of assigned resources on respective sets of carrierscorresponding to the one or more anchor carriers on which the at leastone grant message was received based at least in part on the at leastone grant message.

Another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus. Thewireless communications apparatus can include at least one processorconfigured to identify a plurality of carriers in frequency and at leastone anchor carrier among the plurality of carriers, identify respectiverelationships between respective anchor carriers and sets of carrierscorresponding to the respective anchor carriers, receive at least onegrant message on one or more anchor carriers, and determine a set ofassigned resources on respective sets of carriers corresponding to theone or more anchor carriers on which the at least one grant message wasreceived based at least in part on the at least one grant message.Further, the wireless communications apparatus can include memorycoupled to the at least one processor.

Yet another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus thatenables assignment of resources within a multiple carrier environment.The wireless communications apparatus can include means for identifyinga plurality of carriers in frequency and at least one anchor carrieramong the plurality of carriers. Additionally, the wirelesscommunications apparatus can comprise means for identifying respectiverelationships between respective anchor carriers and sets of carrierscorresponding to the respective anchor carriers. Further, the wirelesscommunications apparatus can comprise means for receiving at least onegrant message on one or more anchor carriers. Moreover, the wirelesscommunications apparatus can comprise means for determining a set ofassigned resources on respective sets of carriers corresponding to theone or more anchor carriers on which the at least one grant message wasreceived based at least in part on the at least one grant message.

Still another aspect relates to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium having stored thereon code causing at least onecomputer to identify a plurality of carriers in frequency and at leastone anchor carrier among the plurality of carriers, identify respectiverelationships between respective anchor carriers and sets of carrierscorresponding to the respective anchor carriers, receive at least onegrant message on one or more anchor carriers, and determine a set ofassigned resources on respective sets of carriers corresponding to theone or more anchor carriers on which the at least one grant message wasreceived based at least in part on the at least one grant message.

According to other aspects, a method that facilitates identifyingcontrol transmissions based upon an operating mode. The method cancomprise identifying an employed operating mode, wherein the employedoperating mode is selected from the group consisting of a legacy modeand an extended mode. Further, the method can comprise upon identifyingthe legacy mode, monitoring for control transmissions on resourcesassociated with at least one control region of an anchor carrier withinan associated system bandwidth. Moreover, the method can include uponidentifying the extended mode, monitoring for control transmissions onresources associated with the at least one control region of the anchorcarrier and at least one control region of one or more additionalcarriers within the associated system bandwidth.

Another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus. Thewireless communications apparatus can include at least one processorconfigured to identify an employed operating mode, wherein the employedoperating mode is selected from the group consisting of a legacy modeand an extended mode, upon identify the legacy mode, monitoring forcontrol transmissions on resources associated with at least one controlregion of an anchor carrier within an associated system bandwidth, andupon identify the extended mode, monitoring for control transmissions onresources associated with the at least one control region of the anchorcarrier and at least one control region of one or more additionalcarriers within the associated system bandwidth. Further, the wirelesscommunications apparatus can include memory coupled to the at least oneprocessor.

Another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus thatidentifies control transmissions based upon an operating mode. Thewireless communications apparatus can comprise means for identifying anemployed operating mode, wherein the employed operating mode is selectedfrom the group consisting of a legacy mode and an extended mode.Moreover, the wireless communications apparatus can comprise means forupon identifying the legacy mode, monitoring for control transmissionson resources associated with at least one control region of an anchorcarrier within an associated system bandwidth. Further, the wirelesscommunications apparatus can include means for upon identifying theextended mode, monitoring for control transmissions on resourcesassociated with the at least one control region of the anchor carrierand at least one control region of one or more additional carrierswithin the associated system bandwidth.

Still another aspect relates to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium having stored thereon code for causing at leastone computer to identify an employed operating mode, wherein theemployed operating mode is selected from the group consisting of alegacy mode and an extended mode, upon identify the legacy mode,monitoring for control transmissions on resources associated with atleast one control region of an anchor carrier within an associatedsystem bandwidth, and upon identify the extended mode, monitoring forcontrol transmissions on resources associated with the at least onecontrol region of the anchor carrier and at least one control region ofone or more additional carriers within the associated system bandwidth.

According to other aspects, a method that facilitates communicatingcontrol information for two or more carriers to a user equipment (UE).The method can comprise configuring an anchor carrier at a predeterminedfrequency range within a system bandwidth to include a control regiondetectable to respective user equipment units (UEs) operating in alegacy mode and respective UEs operating in an extended mode. Further,the method can comprise configuring at least one additional carrier atrespective non-overlapping frequency ranges within the system bandwidthto include respective control regions detectable to UEs operating in theextended mode but transparent to UEs operating in the legacy mode.

Another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus. Thewireless communications apparatus can include at least one processorconfigured to configure an anchor carrier at a predetermined frequencyrange within a system bandwidth to include a control region detectableto respective user equipment units (UEs) operating in a legacy mode andrespective UEs operating in an extended mode, and configure at least oneadditional carrier at respective non-overlapping frequency ranges withinthe system bandwidth to include respective control regions detectable toUEs operating in the extended mode but transparent to UEs operating inthe legacy mode. Further, the wireless communications apparatus caninclude memory coupled to the at least one processor.

Another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus thatcommunicates control information. The wireless communications apparatuscan comprise means for configuring an anchor carrier at a predeterminedfrequency range within a system bandwidth to include a control regiondetectable to respective user equipment units (UEs) operating in alegacy mode and respective UEs operating in an extended mode. Moreover,the wireless communications apparatus can comprise means for configuringat least one additional carrier at respective non-overlapping frequencyranges within the system bandwidth to include respective control regionsdetectable to UEs operating in the extended mode but transparent to UEsoperating in the legacy mode.

Still another aspect relates to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium having stored thereon code for causing at leastone computer to configure an anchor carrier at a predetermined frequencyrange within a system bandwidth to include a control region detectableto respective user equipment units (UEs) operating in a legacy mode andrespective UEs operating in an extended mode, and configure at least oneadditional carrier at respective non-overlapping frequency ranges withinthe system bandwidth to include respective control regions detectable toUEs operating in the extended mode but transparent to UEs operating inthe legacy mode.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or moreembodiments comprise the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims. The following description andthe annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects ofthe one or more embodiments. These aspects are indicative, however, ofbut a few of the various ways in which the principles of variousembodiments can be employed and the described embodiments are intendedto include all such aspects and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a wireless communication system inaccordance with various aspects set forth herein.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an example communications apparatus foremployment within a wireless communications environment.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an example wireless communications systemthat facilitates assigning resources for a plurality of carriers.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an example system that facilitatescommunicating and receiving a grant that specifies resource assignmentfor two or more carriers.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an example system that facilitatesutilizing an anchor carrier to communicate a resource assignment grantfor a plurality of carriers.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an example of grant information inaccordance with the subject innovation.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an example of grant information inaccordance with the subject innovation.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an example system that facilitatesidentifying control transmissions based upon an operating mode.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an example system that facilitatesimplementing a control region for wireless communications.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of an example methodology that facilitatesassigning resources within a multiple carrier environment.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of an example methodology that facilitatesidentifying control transmissions based upon an operating mode.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an example methodology that facilitatescommunicating control information for two or more carriers to a userequipment (UE).

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an example mobile device that facilitatesassigning resources for a plurality of carriers in a wirelesscommunication system.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of an example system that facilitatesassigning resources for a plurality of carriers in a wirelesscommunication environment.

FIG. 15 is an illustration of an example wireless network environmentthat can be employed in conjunction with the various systems and methodsdescribed herein.

FIG. 16 is an illustration of an example system that facilitatesassigning resources within a multiple carrier environment.

FIG. 17 is an illustration of an example system that identifying controltransmissions based upon an operating mode in a wireless communicationenvironment.

FIG. 18 is an illustration of an example system that communicatingcontrol information for two or more carriers to a user equipment (UE) ina wireless communication environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings,wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elementsthroughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of one or more embodiments. It may be evident, however,that such embodiment(s) may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in blockdiagram form in order to facilitate describing one or more embodiments.

As used in this application, the terms “module,” “carrier,” “source,”“system,” and the like are intended to refer to a computer-relatedentity, either hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware andsoftware, software, or software in execution. For example, a componentcan be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program,and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application runningon a computing device and the computing device can be a component. Oneor more components can reside within a process and/or thread ofexecution and a component can be localized on one computer and/ordistributed between two or more computers. In addition, these componentscan execute from various computer readable media having various datastructures stored thereon. The components can communicate by way oflocal and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal havingone or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting withanother component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across anetwork such as the Internet with other systems by way of the signal).

The techniques described herein can be used for various wirelesscommunication systems such as code division multiple access (CDMA), timedivision multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access(FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), singlecarrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) and other systems.The terms “system” and “network” are often used interchangeably. A CDMAsystem can implement a radio technology such as Universal TerrestrialRadio Access (UTRA), CDMA2000, etc. UTRA includes Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA)and other variants of CDMA. CDMA2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856standards. A TDMA system can implement a radio technology such as GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA system can implement aradio technology such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband(UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20,Flash-OFDM, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal MobileTelecommunication System (UMTS). 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is anupcoming release of UMTS that uses E-UTRA, which employs OFDMA on thedownlink and SC-FDMA on the uplink.

Single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) utilizessingle carrier modulation and frequency domain equalization. SC-FDMA hassimilar performance and essentially the same overall complexity as thoseof an OFDMA system. A SC-FDMA signal has lower peak-to-average powerratio (PAPR) because of its inherent single carrier structure. SC-FDMAcan be used, for instance, in uplink communications where lower PAPRgreatly benefits access terminals in terms of transmit power efficiency.Accordingly, SC-FDMA can be implemented as an uplink multiple accessscheme in 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) or Evolved UTRA.

Furthermore, various embodiments are described herein in connection witha mobile device. A mobile device can also be called a system, subscriberunit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile, remote station, remoteterminal, access terminal, user terminal, terminal, wirelesscommunication device, user agent, user device, or user equipment (UE). Amobile device can be a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, aSession Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL)station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device havingwireless connection capability, computing device, or other processingdevice connected to a wireless modem. Moreover, various embodiments aredescribed herein in connection with a base station. A base station canbe utilized for communicating with mobile device(s) and can also bereferred to as an access point, Node B, or some other terminology.

Moreover, various aspects or features described herein can beimplemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture usingstandard programming and/or engineering techniques. The term “article ofmanufacture” as used herein is intended to encompass a computer programaccessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. Forexample, computer-readable media can include but are not limited tomagnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips,etc.), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk(DVD), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., EPROM, card,stick, key drive, etc.). Additionally, various storage media describedherein can represent one or more devices and/or other machine-readablemedia for storing information. The term “machine-readable medium” caninclude, without being limited to, wireless channels and various othermedia capable of storing, containing, and/or carrying instruction(s)and/or data.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a wireless communication system 100 isillustrated in accordance with various embodiments presented herein.System 100 comprises a base station 102 that can include multipleantenna groups. For example, one antenna group can include antennas 104and 106, another group can comprise antennas 108 and 110, and anadditional group can include antennas 112 and 114. Two antennas areillustrated for each antenna group; however, more or fewer antennas canbe utilized for each group. Base station 102 can additionally include atransmitter chain and a receiver chain, each of which can in turncomprise a plurality of components associated with signal transmissionand reception (e.g., processors, modulators, multiplexers, demodulators,demultiplexers, antennas, etc.), as will be appreciated by one skilledin the art.

Base station 102 can communicate with one or more mobile devices such asmobile device 116 and mobile device 122; however, it is to beappreciated that base station 102 can communicate with substantially anynumber of mobile devices similar to mobile devices 116 and 122. Mobiledevices 116 and 122 can be, for example, cellular phones, smart phones,laptops, handheld communication devices, handheld computing devices,satellite radios, global positioning systems, PDAs, and/or any othersuitable device for communicating over wireless communication system100. As depicted, mobile device 116 is in communication with antennas112 and 114, where antennas 112 and 114 transmit information to mobiledevice 116 over a forward link 118 and receive information from mobiledevice 116 over a reverse link 120. Moreover, mobile device 122 is incommunication with antennas 104 and 106, where antennas 104 and 106transmit information to mobile device 122 over a forward link 124 andreceive information from mobile device 122 over a reverse link 126. In afrequency division duplex (FDD) system, forward link 118 can utilize adifferent frequency band than that used by reverse link 120, and forwardlink 124 can employ a different frequency band than that employed byreverse link 126, for example. Further, in a time division duplex (TDD)system, forward link 118 and reverse link 120 can utilize a commonfrequency band and forward link 124 and reverse link 126 can utilize acommon frequency band.

Each group of antennas and/or the area in which they are designated tocommunicate can be referred to as a sector of base station 102. Forexample, antenna groups can be designed to communicate to mobile devicesin a sector of the areas covered by base station 102. In communicationover forward links 118 and 124, the transmitting antennas of basestation 102 can utilize beamforming to improve signal-to-noise ratio offorward links 118 and 124 for mobile devices 116 and 122. Also, whilebase station 102 utilizes beamforming to transmit to mobile devices 116and 122 scattered randomly through an associated coverage, mobiledevices in neighboring cells can be subject to less interference ascompared to a base station transmitting through a single antenna to allits mobile devices.

Base station 102 (and/or each sector of base station 102) can employ oneor more multiple access technologies (e.g., CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, . .. ). For instance, base station 102 can utilize a particular technologyfor communicating with mobile devices (e.g., mobile devices 116 and 122)upon a corresponding bandwidth. Moreover, if more than one technology isemployed by base station 102, each technology can be associated with arespective bandwidth. The technologies described herein can includefollowing: Global System for Mobile (GSM), General Packet Radio Service(GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access(W-CDMA), cdmaOne (IS-95), CDMA2000, Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO),Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Worldwide Interoperability for MicrowaveAccess (WiMAX), MediaFLO, Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), DigitalVideo Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H), etc. It is to be appreciated thatthe aforementioned listing of technologies is provided as an example andthe claimed subject matter is not so limited; rather, substantially anywireless communication technology is intended to fall within the scopeof the hereto appended claims.

Base station 102 can employ a first bandwidth with a first technology.Moreover, base station 102 can transmit a pilot corresponding to thefirst technology on a second bandwidth. According to an illustration,the second bandwidth can be leveraged by base station 102 and/or anydisparate base station (not shown) for communication that utilizes anysecond technology. Moreover, the pilot can indicate the presence of thefirst technology (e.g., to a mobile device communicating via the secondtechnology). For example, the pilot can use bit(s) to carry informationabout the presence of the first technology. Additionally, informationsuch as a SectorID of the sector utilizing the first technology, aCarrierIndex indicating the first frequency bandwidth, and the like canbe included in the pilot.

According to another example, the pilot can be a beacon (and/or asequence of beacons). A beacon can be an OFDM symbol where a largefraction of the power is transmitted on one subcarrier or a fewsubcarriers (e.g., small number of subcarriers). Thus, the beaconprovides a strong peak that can be observed by mobile devices, whileinterfering with data on a narrow portion of bandwidth (e.g., theremainder of the bandwidth can be unaffected by the beacon). Followingthis example, a first sector can communicate via CDMA on a firstbandwidth and a second sector can communicate via OFDM on a secondbandwidth. Accordingly, the first sector can signify the availability ofCDMA on the first bandwidth (e.g., to mobile device(s) operatingutilizing OFDM on the second bandwidth) by transmitting an OFDM beacon(or a sequence of OFDM beacons) upon the second bandwidth.

The subject innovation can provide the assignment of resourcesassociated with a plurality of carriers based upon a received grantmessage from an anchor carrier. In other words, an anchor carrier cancommunicate a grant message, wherein the grant message can includeresource assignments for a plurality of carriers (e.g., anchor carrier,additional carriers, etc.). In an example, the grant message can becarrier specific in which the grant message is independently coded foreach carrier. In another example, the grant message can be jointly codedin which resource information is common for the specified carriers.

Moreover, the subject innovation can enable efficient identification ofcontrol information for a user equipment (UE). For example, an operatingmode can be identified in which the operating mode can be a legacy modeor an extended mode. Based upon the identified operating mode, thecontrol information can be monitored at a particular control regionwithin an anchor carrier bandwidth. In other words, control informationfor a user equipment (UE) can be identified within particular controlregions based upon whether in legacy mode or extended mode.

Turning to FIG. 2, illustrated is a communications apparatus 200 foremployment within a wireless communications environment. Thecommunications apparatus 200 can be a base station or a portion thereof,a mobile device or a portion thereof, or substantially anycommunications apparatus that receives data transmitted in a wirelesscommunications environment. In communications systems, thecommunications apparatus 200 employ components described below tofacilitate identifying control information and assigning resources for aplurality of carriers.

The communications apparatus 200 can include a grant processing module202 and/or a resource configuration module 204. The grant processingmodule 202 can receive a grant message from an anchor carrier thatincludes resource assignment for two or more carriers. The resourceconfiguration module 204 can manage settings and configurations ofresources for the two or more carriers based at least in part upon thereceived grant message.

Moreover, the communications apparatus 200 can further enable employmentand identification of operating modes in which control information canbe monitored at various regions based upon the particular operatingmode. For example, control transmission on resources associated with acontrol region for an anchor carrier can be monitored if a firstoperating mode is identified. Moreover, control transmissions onresources associated with a control region for an anchor carrier and acontrol region for an additional carrier can be monitored if a secondoperating mode is identified.

Moreover, although not shown, it is to be appreciated thatcommunications apparatus 200 can include memory that retainsinstructions with respect to identifying a plurality of carriers infrequency and at least one anchor carrier among the plurality ofcarriers, identifying respective relationships between respective anchorcarriers and sets of carriers corresponding to the respective anchorcarriers, receiving at least one grant message on one or more anchorcarriers, determining a set of assigned resources on respective sets ofcarriers corresponding to the one or more anchor carriers on which theat least one grant message was received based at least in part on the atleast one grant message, and the like. Further, communications apparatus200 can include a processor that may be utilized in connection withexecuting instructions (e.g., instructions retained within memory,instructions obtained from a disparate source, . . . ).

Additionally, although not shown, it is to be appreciated thatcommunications apparatus 200 can include memory that retainsinstructions with respect to identifying an employed operating mode,wherein the employed operating mode is selected from the groupconsisting of a legacy mode and an extended mode, upon identifying thelegacy mode, monitoring for control transmissions on resourcesassociated with at least one control region of an anchor carrier withinan associated system bandwidth, upon identifying the extended mode,monitoring for control transmissions on resources associated with the atleast one control region of the anchor carrier and at least one controlregion of one or more additional carriers within the associated systembandwidth, and the like. Further, communications apparatus 200 caninclude a processor that may be utilized in connection with executinginstructions (e.g., instructions retained within memory, instructionsobtained from a disparate source, . . . ).

Now referring to FIG. 3, illustrated is a wireless communications system300 that can provide assignment of resources for a plurality ofcarriers. The system 300 includes a base station 302 that communicateswith a user equipment 304 (and/or any number of disparate user equipment(not shown)). Base station 302 can transmit information to userequipment 304 over a forward link channel; further base station 302 canreceive information from user equipment 304 over a reverse link channel.Moreover, system 300 can be a MIMO system. Additionally, the system 300can operate in an OFDMA wireless network, a 3GPP LTE wireless network,etc. Also, the components and functionalities shown and described belowin the base station 302 can be present in the user equipment 304 as welland vice versa, in one example; the configuration depicted excludesthese components for ease of explanation.

Base station 302 includes a resource grant module 306. The resourcegrant module 306 can create a grant message that indicates recourseassignment for at least one anchor carrier and/or at least oneadditional carrier. The base station 302 can further include a carrierorganization module 308. The carrier organization module 308 canaggregate resource information from at least one anchor carrier and/orat least one additional carrier in order to create a grant message toindicate resource assignment.

User equipment 304 can include a grant processing module 310 thatevaluate the received grant message in order to identify resourceallocation for at least one anchor carrier and/or at least oneadditional carrier. The user equipment 304 can further include aresource configuration module 312 that can configure the user equipment304 based at least in part upon the grant message and indicated resourceassignments for the at least one anchor carrier and/or the at least oneadditional carrier.

In regards to uplink (UL) control, the legacy control region can beretained on an anchor carrier. For example, the legacy control regioncan be on the edges of the legacy segment and can be used for control ofthe legacy UEs and for Rel-9/10 UEs. In addition, a new control regioncan be implemented. The new control region can be used for control ofthe Rel-9/10 UEs. The exact frequency location can be defined in anadditional SIB. For example, the location can be on the anchor carrierwithin the legacy data part and/or on the new, non-legacy carriers. Thiscan enable diversity and protection based upon frequency diverse RBs andhopping and frequency coordination to protect the band.

In regards to uplink (UL) grant, a legacy UE can receive a UL grant onthe anchor carrier and assign resources on the UL carrier paired withthe anchor carrier. In Rel-9/10 UE, the UL grant on the anchor carriercan assign UL resources on the UL carriers for which it is defined as ananchor carrier. For example, UL carriers paired with the DL carriers forwhich it is defined as an anchor carrier. UL assignments across multipleUL carriers can assume joint or independent data coding. This can beconveyed to the UE in the grant message. Joint coding can be possiblefor OFDMA based ULs or multi-PA UEs with SC-FDM based ULs. This can beconsidered a new grant format.

Moreover, it is to be appreciated that the UL grants on a DL carrierthat is not an anchor carrier can assign resources for the UL carrierpaired with it as well as for legacy UEs. Additionally, grants acrosscarriers can be concatenated to convey the aggregate assignment.

In regards to a multicarrier DL DCI format, DL grant overhead in amulticarrier system can be different depending on how HARQ and MCSinformation for each carrier are conveyed to a UE. Single multicarriergrant can have additional bits for separate MCS for each carrier (e.g.,5 bits per carrier). Multiple Rel-8 based grant sent on each carrierseparately can have additional bits for MCS, flags, HARQ process ID, CRCper carrier (e.g., 25 bits per carrier). Thus, an MC grant format isdesirable. Common fields such as CRC, HARQ process ID, and flags can besaved from repeating as can happen with separate grant per carrier.

In regards to HARQ operation, if separate, per carrier Rel-8 grant isused, separate HARQ process can be defined per carrier. If multicarriergrant is used, common HARQ process can be used across all carriers. Thiscan be an extension of the MIMO multiple code words design and can beapplicable to MIMO and SIMO case. A new data indicator (NDI) can be usedin conjunction with HARQ process ID information (e.g., NDI per code wordper carrier in MIMO case, NDI per carrier in SIMO case, etc.). Thescheme can provide the full flexibility in terms of assigning data onsome or all carriers at a certain TTI, with or without code wordblanking (for MIMO).

This can reduce overhead with respect of separate HARQ ID per carrier(e.g., 3 bits vs. N×3, where N is the number of carriers). This may be aless flexible operation as compared to the approach where each carrierhas separate HARQ ID in terms of scheduling certain retransmissionscorresponding to different HARQ processes at the same time. For exampleif there are pending retransmissions for HARQ process ID 1 for the firstcarrier, and HARQ process ID 0 and 1 for the second carrier. Withseparate HARQ process IDs it can be possible to schedule togetherretransmission for HARQ process ID 1 for the first carrier andretransmission for HARQ process ID 0 for the second carrier. With commonHARQ process IDs it can be possible to schedule together newtransmission for HARQ process ID 0 for the first carrier and theretransmission for HARQ process ID 0 for the second carrier.Retransmission for HARQ process ID 1 for the first carrier can bedelayed. The restriction mostly applies to the corner cases, as in thescheduling process the retransmissions of all UEs are given priority, soit is not very likely that UE would have several pending retransmissionscorresponding to different HARQ process IDs.

While LTE-Advanced has to support Rel-8 control it would be beneficialto introduce new aspects that would improve LTE-Advanced functionalityby adjusting to the new features introduced in it. This subjectinnovation addresses the benefits of introducing multicarrier DL and ULassignments. The multicarrier assignments are more suitable formulticarrier configuration as they can provide overhead reductioncompared to the single carrier Rel-8 assignments and possibly reduce theUE assignment monitoring to one carrier. The possible multicarrier DCIformats for DL and UL are also provided.

Rel-8 assignment sent on one DL carrier assigns DL/UL resources to thetarget UE on that same DL carrier/corresponding UL carrier. In additionto Rel-8 assignments, it would be beneficial to introduce multicarrierassignments for LTE-Advanced that would be more suitable formulticarrier configuration and provide overhead reduction compared tothe single carrier Rel-8 assignments.

Multicarrier grant would assign resources on multiple carriers. It hassmaller overhead since common fields across carriers, such as CRC, HARQprocess ID, and flags, are not repeated as in the case of multiple Rel-8grants used for multicarrier assignment.

The multicarrier assignment could come on any DL carrier and couldassign resources for any DL/UL carrier(s). If we configure anchorcarriers as described in [1] they would provide reliable controlcoverage, and the multicarrier assignments should by default come there.The multicarrier assignment sent on anchor carrier would providereliable data scheduling on carriers on which control may not bereliably conveyed. RRC signalling would inform UE if there areadditional DL carrier(s) to monitor for possible multicarrierassignments.

Rel-8 UL grant sent on one DL carrier assigns UL resources to the targetUE on the UL paired with that DL carrier. Similarly as in the case of DLassignments, from the perspective of UE assignment monitoring andoverhead it would be beneficial to define UL multicarrier grants thatwould assign UL resources on multiple carriers. Mew DCI formats arerequired for multicarrier UL assignment. Multicarrier DCI format forUL-SCH assignment is given in Table 1 and is based on Rel-8 Format 0.

TABLE 1 NRB 110 220 330 440 550 Flag format0/format1A 1 1 1 1 1differentiation Hopping flag 1 1 1 1 1 Resource block assignment 13 1516 17 18 and hopping resource allocation MCS 5 10 15 20 25 NDI 1 2 3 4 5TPC 2 2 2 2 2 Cyclic shift for DM RS 3 3 3 3 3 UL index (TDD only) 0 0 00 0 Aperiodic CQI request 1 2 3 4 5 ACK/NACK Transmission 1 2 3 4 5 CRC16 16 16 16 16 Total: 44 54 63 72 81

The subject innovation addresses the benefits of introducingmulticarrier DL and UL assignments. The multicarrier assignments aremore suitable for multicarrier configuration as they can provideoverhead reduction compared to the single carrier Rel-8 assignments andpossibly reduce the UE assignment monitoring to one (anchor) carrier.The multicarrier assignments are also beneficial as they can be used toschedule data on carriers on which control may not be reliable.

Moreover, although not shown, it is to be appreciated that base station302 can include memory that retains instructions with respect toidentifying a plurality of carriers in frequency and at least one anchorcarrier among the plurality of carriers, identifying respectiverelationships between respective anchor carriers and sets of carrierscorresponding to the respective anchor carriers, receiving at least onegrant message on one or more anchor carriers, determining a set ofassigned resources on respective sets of carriers corresponding to theone or more anchor carriers on which the at least one grant message wasreceived based at least in part on the at least one grant message, andthe like. Further, communications apparatus 200 can include a processorthat may be utilized in connection with executing instructions (e.g.,instructions retained within memory, instructions obtained from adisparate source, . . . ).

Additionally, although not shown, it is to be appreciated that basestation 302 can include memory that retains instructions with respect toidentifying an employed operating mode, wherein the employed operatingmode is selected from the group consisting of a legacy mode and anextended mode, upon identifying the legacy mode, monitoring for controltransmissions on resources associated with at least one control regionof an anchor carrier within an associated system bandwidth, uponidentifying the extended mode, monitoring for control transmissions onresources associated with the at least one control region of the anchorcarrier and at least one control region of one or more additionalcarriers within the associated system bandwidth, and the like. Further,communications apparatus 200 can include a processor that may beutilized in connection with executing instructions (e.g., instructionsretained within memory, instructions obtained from a disparate source, .. . ).

Additionally, although not shown, it is to be appreciated that basestation 302 can include memory that retains instructions with respect toconfiguring an anchor carrier at a predetermined frequency range withina system bandwidth to include a control region detectable to respectiveuser equipment units (UEs) operating in a legacy mode and respective UEsoperating in an extended mode, configuring at least one additionalcarrier at respective non-overlapping frequency ranges within the systembandwidth to include respective control regions detectable to UEsoperating in the extended mode but transparent to UEs operating in thelegacy mode, and the like. Further, communications apparatus 200 caninclude a processor that may be utilized in connection with executinginstructions (e.g., instructions retained within memory, instructionsobtained from a disparate source, . . . ).

Now referring to FIG. 4, an example wireless communications system 400can provide communication and receipt of a grant that specifies resourceassignment for two or more carriers. The system 400 can include a systemcontroller 410 that can communicate with any suitable number of eNBs,such as eNB₁ 420 a to eNB_(K) 420 k, where k is a positive integer. TheeNBs can communicate with any suitable number of user equipment (UE),such as UE₁ 430 a to UE_(N) 430 n, where n is a positive integer.

The system controller 410 can include a resource grant module 412 thatcan create and communicate a grant message that indicates carrierresource information and/or carrier resource assignment information. Forexample, the grant message can include resource assignments for aplurality of carriers, wherein the grant message can be communicated viaan anchor carrier. The system controller 410 can further include acarrier organization module 414 that can aggregate and/or collectresource information related to the various carriers within a wirelesscommunications environment.

The eNBs can include a grant processing module 422 and/or a resourceconfiguration module 424. It is to e appreciated that the grantprocessing module 422 and/or the resource configuration module 424 canbe included within any suitable eNB (e.g., eNB 420 a) and/or anysuitable UE (e.g., UE 430 a). The grant processing module 422 canreceive the message grant via an anchor carrier and determine orascertain resources for two or more carriers (e.g., anchor carrier andadditional carriers). Moreover, the resource configuration module 424can configure and/or manage resources for each carrier based at least inpart upon the received grant message.

FIG. 5 is an example system 500 is illustrated that facilitatesutilizing an anchor carrier to communicate a resource assignment grantfor a plurality of carriers. The system 500 can include the resourcegrant module 412 and the grant processing module 422. It is to beappreciated that the resource grant module 412 can create andcommunicate a grant message that includes resource assignment for atleast one anchor carrier 510 and at least one additional carrier 520.

Turning briefly to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, an example of grant information isdepicted in accordance with the subject innovation. FIG. 6 illustrates acommon grant information 600 (e.g., HARQ Process ID, TPC, CRC, etc.),wherein the common grant information 600 can include per-carrier grantinformation. For example, the per-carrier grant information can be, butis not limited to, resource allocation information, MCS, NDI, etc. FIG.7 illustrates a common grant information 700 that provides per-carriergrant information for non-scheduled carriers and scheduled carriers. Thecommon grant information 700 can be HARQ Process ID, TPC, CRC, etc.Moreover, the per-carrier grant information can be, but is not limitedto, resource allocation information, MCS, NDI, etc.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example system 800 that facilitates identifyingcontrol transmissions based upon an operating mode. The system 800 caninclude an eNB 810 that can communicate with a UE (legacy) 820 and/or aUE (extended) 830. The system 800 can enable a UE to monitor for controlinformation based on an identified operating mode. It is to beappreciated that the solid double-sided arrows indicate communicationswith an anchor carrier and dotted double-sided arrows indicatecommunications with additional carriers. The eNB 810 can include aresource configuration module 812 and/or a control source 814. Thecontrol source 814 can provide control information. The configurationmodule 812 can configure an anchor carrier and/or an additional carrierat predetermined frequency ranges within bandwidth in order to providecontrol information to various UEs based upon an operating mode (e.g.,legacy, extended, etc.).

The UE (legacy) 820 can include a resource monitoring module (anchorcarrier) 822 that can enable the UE to monitor control transmissions onresources associated with at least one control region of an anchorcarrier within an associated system bandwidth based on the operatingmode being legacy mode. The UE (extended) 830 can include a resourcemonitoring module (anchor carrier) 822 and a resource monitoring module(additional carriers) 832. The resource monitoring module (anchorcarrier) 822 within the UE (extended) 830 can monitor controltransmissions on resources associated with at least one control regionof the anchor carrier within an associated system bandwidth based on theoperating mode being extended mode. The resource monitoring module(additional carriers) 832 within the UE (extended) 830 can monitorcontrol transmissions on resources associated with at least one controlregion of the additional carrier within an associated system bandwidthbased on the operating mode being extended mode. In addition, it is tobe appreciated that the UE can determine a respective operating mode inorder to determine which control regions to monitor for controlinformation.

FIG. 9 depicts an example system 900 that facilitates implementing acontrol region for wireless communications. It is to be appreciated thatthe system 900 is solely an example configuration and is not to belimiting on the subject innovation. The system 900 can include a samplesystem bandwidth 902 that indicates control information, the bandwidth902 include B (total bandwidth), B₁ (first edge), B₀ (section betweenthe first edge and the second edge), and B₂ (second edge). The bandwidth902 illustrates portions of the bandwidth for a legacy segment, a legacycontrol region, an extended segment, and an extended control region.

The system 900 further includes a bandwidth 904 that indicates controlinformation utilizing frequency hopping. The bandwidth 904 include B(total bandwidth), B₁ (first edge), B₀ (section between the first edgeand the second edge), and B₂ (second edge). The bandwidth 904illustrates portions of the bandwidth for a legacy segment, a legacycontrol region, an extended segment, and an extended control region.

Referring to FIGS. 10-12, methodologies relating to providing uplinktiming control while reducing overhead and power consumption areillustrated. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, themethodologies are shown and described as a series of acts, it is to beunderstood and appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by theorder of acts, as some acts may, in accordance with one or moreembodiments, occur in different orders and/or concurrently with otheracts from that shown and described herein. For example, those skilled inthe art will understand and appreciate that a methodology couldalternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states orevents, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated actsmay be required to implement a methodology in accordance with one ormore embodiments.

Turning to FIG. 10, illustrated is a methodology 1000 that facilitatesassigning resources within a multiple carrier environment. At referencenumeral 1002, a plurality of carriers in frequency and at least oneanchor carrier among the plurality of carriers can be identified. Atreference numeral 1004, respective relationships between respectiveanchor carriers and sets of carriers corresponding to the respectiveanchor carriers can be identified. At reference numeral 1006, at leastone grant message on one or more anchor carriers can be received. Atreference numeral 1008, a set of assigned resources on respective setsof carriers corresponding to the one or more anchor carriers on whichthe at least one grant message was received based at least in part onthe at least one grant message can be determined.

Now referring to FIG. 11, a methodology 1100 is shown that facilitatesidentifying control transmissions based upon an operating mode. Atreference numeral 1102, an employed operating mode can be identified,wherein the employed operating mode is selected from the groupconsisting of a legacy mode and an extended mode. At reference numeral1104, upon identifying the legacy mode, control transmissions onresources associated with at least one control region of an anchorcarrier within an associated system bandwidth can be monitored. Atreference numeral 1106, upon identifying the extended mode, controltransmissions on resources associated with the at least one controlregion of the anchor carrier and at least one control region of one ormore additional carriers within the associated system bandwidth can bemonitored.

Referring to FIG. 12, a methodology 1200 is illustrates that facilitatescommunicating control information for two or more carriers to a userequipment (UE). At reference numeral 1202, an anchor carrier at apredetermined frequency range within a system bandwidth can beconfigured to include a control region detectable to respective userequipment units (UEs) operating in a legacy mode and respective UEsoperating in an extended mode. At reference numeral 1204, at least oneadditional carrier can be configured at respective non-overlappingfrequency ranges within the system bandwidth to include respectivecontrol regions detectable to UEs operating in the extended mode buttransparent to UEs operating in the legacy mode.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a mobile device 1300 that facilitatesassigning resources for a plurality of carriers in a wirelesscommunication system. Mobile device 1300 comprises a receiver 1302 thatreceives a signal from, for instance, a receive antenna (not shown),performs typical actions on (e.g., filters, amplifies, downconverts,etc.) the received signal, and digitizes the conditioned signal toobtain samples. Receiver 1302 can comprise a demodulator 1304 that candemodulate received symbols and provide them to a processor 1306 forchannel estimation. Processor 1306 can be a processor dedicated toanalyzing information received by receiver 1302 and/or generatinginformation for transmission by a transmitter 1316, a processor thatcontrols one or more components of mobile device 1300, and/or aprocessor that both analyzes information received by receiver 1302,generates information for transmission by transmitter 1316, and controlsone or more components of mobile device 1300.

Mobile device 1300 can additionally comprise memory 1308 that isoperatively coupled to processor 1306 and that can store data to betransmitted, received data, information related to available channels,data associated with analyzed signal and/or interference strength,information related to an assigned channel, power, rate, or the like,and any other suitable information for estimating a channel andcommunicating via the channel. Memory 1308 can additionally storeprotocols and/or algorithms associated with estimating and/or utilizinga channel (e.g., performance based, capacity based, etc.).

It will be appreciated that the data store (e.g., memory 1308) describedherein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or caninclude both volatile and nonvolatile memory. By way of illustration,and not limitation, nonvolatile memory can include read only memory(ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memorycan include random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cachememory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available inmany forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM),synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhancedSDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).The memory 1308 of the subject systems and methods is intended tocomprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable typesof memory.

Processor 1306 can further be operatively coupled to a grant processingmodule 1310 and/or a resource configuration module 1312. The grantprocessing module 1310 can receive a grant message from an anchorcarrier that includes resource assignment for two or more carriers. Theresource configuration module 1312 can manage settings andconfigurations of resources for the two or more carriers based at leastin part upon the received grant message.

Mobile device 1300 still further comprises a modulator 1314 andtransmitter 1316 that respectively modulate and transmit signals to, forinstance, a base station, another mobile device, etc. Although depictedas being separate from the processor 606, it is to be appreciated thatthe grant processing module 1310, resource configuration module 1312,demodulator 1304, and/or modulator 1314 can be part of the processor1306 or multiple processors (not shown).

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a system 1400 that facilitates assigningresources for a plurality of carriers in a wireless communicationenvironment as described supra. The system 1400 comprises a base station1402 (e.g., access point, . . . ) with a receiver 1410 that receivessignal(s) from one or more mobile devices 1404 through a plurality ofreceive antennas 1406, and a transmitter 1424 that transmits to the oneor more mobile devices 1404 through a transmit antenna 1408. Receiver1410 can receive information from receive antennas 1406 and isoperatively associated with a demodulator 1412 that demodulates receivedinformation. Demodulated symbols are analyzed by a processor 1414 thatcan be similar to the processor described above with regard to FIG. 13,and which is coupled to a memory 1416 that stores information related toestimating a signal (e.g., pilot) strength and/or interference strength,data to be transmitted to or received from mobile device(s) 1404 (or adisparate base station (not shown)), and/or any other suitableinformation related to performing the various actions and functions setforth herein.

Processor 1414 is further coupled to a grant processing module 1418 thatcan receive a grant message from an anchor carrier that includesresource assignment for two or more carriers. Moreover, the processor1414 can be coupled to a resource configuration module 1420 that canmanage settings and configurations of resources for the two or morecarriers based at least in part upon the received grant message.Furthermore, although depicted as being separate from the processor1414, it is to be appreciated that the grant processing module 1418,resource configuration module 1420, demodulator 1412, and/or modulator1422 can be part of the processor 1414 or multiple processors (notshown).

FIG. 15 shows an example wireless communication system 1500. Thewireless communication system 1500 depicts one base station 1510 and onemobile device 1550 for sake of brevity. However, it is to be appreciatedthat system 1500 can include more than one base station and/or more thanone mobile device, wherein additional base stations and/or mobiledevices can be substantially similar or different from example basestation 1510 and mobile device 1550 described below. In addition, it isto be appreciated that base station 1510 and/or mobile device 1550 canemploy the systems (FIGS. 1-9, 13-14, and 16-18) and/or methods (FIGS.10-12) described herein to facilitate wireless communication therebetween.

At base station 1510, traffic data for a number of data streams isprovided from a data source 1512 to a transmit (TX) data processor 1514.According to an example, each data stream can be transmitted over arespective antenna. TX data processor 1514 formats, codes, andinterleaves the traffic data stream based on a particular coding schemeselected for that data stream to provide coded data.

The coded data for each data stream can be multiplexed with pilot datausing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) techniques.Additionally or alternatively, the pilot symbols can be frequencydivision multiplexed (FDM), time division multiplexed (TDM), or codedivision multiplexed (CDM). The pilot data is typically a known datapattern that is processed in a known manner and can be used at mobiledevice 1550 to estimate channel response. The multiplexed pilot andcoded data for each data stream can be modulated (e.g., symbol mapped)based on a particular modulation scheme (e.g., binary phase-shift keying(BPSK), quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK), M-phase-shift keying(M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM), etc.) selected forthat data stream to provide modulation symbols. The data rate, coding,and modulation for each data stream can be determined by instructionsperformed or provided by processor 1530.

The modulation symbols for the data streams can be provided to a TX MIMOprocessor 1520, which can further process the modulation symbols (e.g.,for OFDM). TX MIMO processor 1520 then provides N_(T) modulation symbolstreams to N_(T) transmitters (TMTR) 1522 a through 1522 t. In variousembodiments, TX MIMO processor 1520 applies beamforming weights to thesymbols of the data streams and to the antenna from which the symbol isbeing transmitted.

Each transmitter 1522 receives and processes a respective symbol streamto provide one or more analog signals, and further conditions (e.g.,amplifies, filters, and upconverts) the analog signals to provide amodulated signal suitable for transmission over the MIMO channel.Further, N_(T) modulated signals from transmitters 1522 a through 1522 tare transmitted from N_(T) antennas 1524 a through 1524 t, respectively.

At mobile device 1550, the transmitted modulated signals are received byN_(R) antennas 1552 a through 1552 r and the received signal from eachantenna 1552 is provided to a respective receiver (RCVR) 1554 a through1554 r. Each receiver 1554 conditions (e.g., filters, amplifies, anddownconverts) a respective signal, digitizes the conditioned signal toprovide samples, and further processes the samples to provide acorresponding “received” symbol stream.

An RX data processor 1560 can receive and process the N_(R) receivedsymbol streams from N_(R) receivers 1554 based on a particular receiverprocessing technique to provide N_(T) “detected” symbol streams. RX dataprocessor 1560 can demodulate, deinterleave, and decode each detectedsymbol stream to recover the traffic data for the data stream. Theprocessing by RX data processor 1560 is complementary to that performedby TX MIMO processor 1520 and TX data processor 1514 at base station1510.

A processor 1570 can periodically determine which precoding matrix toutilize as discussed above. Further, processor 1570 can formulate areverse link message comprising a matrix index portion and a rank valueportion.

The reverse link message can comprise various types of informationregarding the communication link and/or the received data stream. Thereverse link message can be processed by a TX data processor 1538, whichalso receives traffic data for a number of data streams from a datasource 1536, modulated by a modulator 1580, conditioned by transmitters1554 a through 1554 r, and transmitted back to base station 1510.

At base station 1510, the modulated signals from mobile device 1550 arereceived by antennas 1524, conditioned by receivers 1522, demodulated bya demodulator 1540, and processed by a RX data processor 1542 to extractthe reverse link message transmitted by mobile device 1550. Further,processor 1530 can process the extracted message to determine whichprecoding matrix to use for determining the beamforming weights.

Processors 1530 and 1570 can direct (e.g., control, coordinate, manage,etc.) operation at base station 1510 and mobile device 1550,respectively. Respective processors 1530 and 1570 can be associated withmemory 1532 and 1572 that store program codes and data. Processors 1530and 1570 can also perform computations to derive frequency and impulseresponse estimates for the uplink and downlink, respectively.

It is to be understood that the embodiments described herein can beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, orany combination thereof. For a hardware implementation, the processingunits can be implemented within one or more application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digitalsignal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs),field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers,micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed toperform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof.

When the embodiments are implemented in software, firmware, middlewareor microcode, program code or code segments, they can be stored in amachine-readable medium, such as a storage component. A code segment canrepresent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, asubroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination ofinstructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment canbe coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passingand/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memorycontents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. can be passed,forwarded, or transmitted using any suitable means including memorysharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

For a software implementation, the techniques described herein can beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein. The software codes can be storedin memory units and executed by processors. The memory unit can beimplemented within the processor or external to the processor, in whichcase it can be communicatively coupled to the processor via variousmeans as is known in the art.

With reference to FIG. 16, illustrated is a system 1600 that assignsresources within a multiple carrier environment. For example, system1600 can reside at least partially within a base station, mobile device,etc. It is to be appreciated that system 1600 is represented asincluding functional blocks, which can be functional blocks thatrepresent functions implemented by a processor, software, or combinationthereof (e.g., firmware). System 1600 includes a logical grouping 1602of electrical components that can act in conjunction. The logicalgrouping 1602 can include an electrical component for identifying aplurality of carriers in frequency and at least one anchor carrier amongthe plurality of carriers 1604. In addition, the logical grouping 1602can comprise an electrical component for identifying respectiverelationships between respective anchor carriers and sets of carrierscorresponding to the respective anchor carriers 1606. Moreover, thelogical grouping 1602 can include an electrical component for receivingat least one grant message on one or more anchor carriers 1608. Thelogical grouping 1602 can further include an electrical component fordetermining a set of assigned resources on respective sets of carrierscorresponding to the one or more anchor carriers on which the at leastone grant message was received based at least in part on the at leastone grant message 1610. Additionally, system 1600 can include a memory1612 that retains instructions for executing functions associated withelectrical components 1604, 1606, 1608, and 1610. While shown as beingexternal to memory 1612, it is to be understood that one or more ofelectrical components 1604, 1606, 1608, and 1610 can exist within memory1612.

Turning to FIG. 17, illustrated is a system 1700 that identifies controltransmissions based upon an operating mode in a wireless communicationenvironment. System 1700 can reside within a base station, mobiledevice, etc., for instance. As depicted, system 1700 includes functionalblocks that can represent functions implemented by a processor,software, or combination thereof (e.g., firmware). Logical grouping 1702can include an electrical component for identifying an employedoperating mode, wherein the employed operating mode is selected from thegroup consisting of a legacy mode and an extended mode 1704. Moreover,logical grouping 1702 can include an electrical component for uponidentifying the legacy mode, monitoring for control transmissions onresources associated with at least one control region of an anchorcarrier within an associated system bandwidth 1706. Further, logicalgrouping 1702 can comprise an electrical component for upon identifyingthe extended mode, monitoring for control transmissions on resourcesassociated with the at least one control region of the anchor carrierand at least one control region of one or more additional carrierswithin the associated system bandwidth 1708. Additionally, system 1700can include a memory 1710 that retains instructions for executingfunctions associated with electrical components 1704, 1706, and 1708.While shown as being external to memory 1710, it is to be understoodthat electrical components 1704, 1706, and 1708 can exist within memory1710.

Turning to FIG. 18, illustrated is a system 1800 that communicatescontrol information for two or more carriers to a user equipment (UE) ina wireless communication environment. System 1800 can reside within abase station, mobile device, etc., for instance. As depicted, system1800 includes functional blocks that can represent functions implementedby a processor, software, or combination thereof (e.g., firmware).Logical grouping 1802 can include an electrical component forconfiguring an anchor carrier at a predetermined frequency range withina system bandwidth to include a control region detectable to respectiveuser equipment units (UEs) operating in a legacy mode and respective UEsoperating in an extended mode 1804. Moreover, logical grouping 1802 caninclude an electrical component for configuring at least one additionalcarrier at respective non-overlapping frequency ranges within the systembandwidth to include respective control regions detectable to UEsoperating in the extended mode but transparent to UEs operating in thelegacy mode 1806. Additionally, system 1800 can include a memory 1808that retains instructions for executing functions associated withelectrical components 1804 and 1806. While shown as being external tomemory 1808, it is to be understood that electrical components 1804 and1806 can exist within memory 1808.

What has been described above includes examples of one or moreembodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing the aforementioned embodiments, but one of ordinary skill inthe art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations ofvarious embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the described embodimentsare intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications andvariations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in eitherthe detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising”is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for use in a wireless communicationssystem for facilitating assigning resources within a multiple carrierenvironment, comprising: identifying a plurality of carriers infrequency and at least one anchor carrier among the plurality ofcarriers; receiving, on the at least one anchor carrier, at least onegrant message for indicating resource assignment; and determining amodulation and coding scheme (MCS) and a set of assigned resourcescomprising a set of resource blocks for the at least one anchor carrierand at least one other carrier among the plurality of carriers based atleast in part on the at least one received grant message.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein each of the at least one grant message isindependently coded to provide information relating to assignedresources on respective individual carriers corresponding to the atleast one anchor carrier.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thereceiving comprises receiving a jointly coded grant message that iscoded to provide information relating to assigned resources onrespective carriers corresponding to the at least one anchor carrier. 4.The method of claim 3, wherein the determining comprises: identifying anaggregated resource assignment provided by the jointly coded grantmessage that comprises concatenated assignment information correspondingto a plurality of carriers; and determining the set of assignedresources based at least in part on the concatenated assignmentinformation.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the jointly coded grantmessage comprises a set of general information that is common acrossrespective carriers and one or more sets of per-carrier informationspecific to respective carriers, wherein the general information and thepre-carrier information are separately coded and the pre-carrierinformation is at least one of jointly coded across carriers includinginformation assignment for the respective carriers or separately codedfor each carrier.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the set of generalinformation comprises one or more of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request(HARQ) process identifier, transmit power control (TPC) information,scheduled carrier identification, or cyclic redundancy check (CRC)information.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more sets ofper-carrier information respectively comprise one or more of resourceallocation information, MCS data, transmit power control, TPCinformation, or a new data indicator (NDI).
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein respective carriers are associated with a plurality of spatialcodewords and the one or more sets of per-carrier information compriseone or more of MCS data or an NDI for respective spatial codewordsassociated with the respective carriers.
 9. The method of claim 5,wherein respective sets of per-carrier information are associated withsubstantially all carriers in an associated system bandwidth.
 10. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the set of general information comprisesinformation relating to respective scheduled carriers.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, wherein respective sets of per-carrier information areassociated with respective scheduled carriers.
 12. The method of claim5, further comprising receiving configuration data relating to a subsetof carriers within an associated system bandwidth, wherein respectivesets of per-carrier information are associated with respective carriersin the subset of carriers.
 13. A wireless communications apparatus thatassigns resources within a multiple carrier environment, comprising:means for identifying a plurality of carriers in frequency and at leastone anchor carrier among the plurality of carriers; means for receiving,on the at least one anchor carrier, at least one grant message forindicating resource assignment; and means for determining a modulationand coding scheme (MCS) and a set of assigned resources comprising a setof resource blocks for the at least one anchor carrier and at least oneother carrier among the plurality of carriers based at least in part onthe at least one received grant message.
 14. A wireless communicationsapparatus, comprising: at least one processor configured to: identify aplurality of carriers in frequency and at least one anchor carrier amongthe plurality of carriers; receive, on the at least one anchor carrier,at least one grant message for indicating resource assignment; anddetermine a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and a set of assignedresources comprising a set of resource blocks for the at least oneanchor carrier and at least one other carrier among the plurality ofcarriers based at least in part on the at least one received grantmessage; and a memory coupled to the at least one processor.
 15. Thewireless communications apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of the atleast one grant message is independently coded to provide informationrelating to assigned resources on respective individual carrierscorresponding to the at least one anchor carrier.
 16. The wirelesscommunications apparatus of claim 14, wherein the receiving comprisesreceiving a jointly coded grant message that is coded to provideinformation relating to assigned resources on respective carrierscorresponding to the at least one anchor carrier.
 17. The wirelesscommunications apparatus of claim 16, wherein the determining comprises:identifying an aggregated resource assignment provided by the jointlycoded grant message that comprises concatenated assignment informationcorresponding to a plurality of carriers; and determining the set ofassigned resources based at least in part on the concatenated assignmentinformation.
 18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16,wherein the jointly coded grant message comprises a set of generalinformation that is common across respective carriers and one or moresets of per-carrier information specific to respective carriers, whereinthe general information and the pre-carrier information are separatelycoded and the pre-carrier information is at least one of jointly codedacross carriers including information assignment for the respectivecarriers or separately coded for each carrier.
 19. The wirelesscommunications apparatus of claim 18, wherein the set of generalinformation comprises one or more of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request(HARQ) process identifier, transmit power control (TPC) information,scheduled carriers identification, or cyclic redundancy check (CRC)information.
 20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 18,wherein the one or more sets of per-carrier information respectivelycomprise one or more of resource allocation information, MCS data,transmit power control, TPC information, or a new data indicator (NDI).21. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 20, whereinrespective carriers are associated with a plurality of spatial codewordsand the one or more sets of per-carrier information comprise one or moreof MCS data or an NDI for respective spatial codewords associated withthe respective carriers.
 22. The wireless communications apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein respective sets of per-carrier information areassociated with substantially all carriers in an associated systembandwidth.
 23. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 18 whereinthe set of general information comprises information relating torespective scheduled carriers.
 24. The wireless communications apparatusof claim 23, wherein respective sets of per-carrier information areassociated with respective scheduled carriers.
 25. The wirelesscommunications apparatus of claim 18, further comprising receivingconfiguration data relating to a subset of carriers within an associatedsystem bandwidth, wherein respective sets of per-carrier information areassociated with respective carriers in the subset of carriers.
 26. Acomputer-readable medium comprising: code for causing at least onecomputer to identify a plurality of carriers in frequency and at leastone anchor carrier among the plurality of carriers; code for causing atleast one computer to receive, on the at least one anchor carrier, atleast one grant message for indicating resource assignment; and code forcausing at least one computer to determine a modulation and codingscheme (MCS) and a set of assigned resources comprising a set ofresource blocks for the at least one anchor carrier and at least oneother carrier among the plurality of carriers based at least in part onthe at least one received grant message.